Stapling mechanism.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

G. W. CHURCH. STAPLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED' MAR. 17, 1908.

G. W. CHURCH. STAPLING MECHANISM. APPLLGATION FILED APR.3.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

||||L ll 'AL C/SZW GEORGE W. CHURCH, OF' STAMFORD,

CONNECTICUT, Iss1 roan, N. Y.

STAPLING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stapling Mechanisms, fully described and'represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in stapling mechanisms and more particularly to thatclass of such mechanisms in which the product is stapled while in motion, or, as it is usually termed, on the run.

The general type of mechanism to which the invention relates may be said to embody a rotating carrier on which the staple forming and driving mechanism is mounted and a rotating carrier on which the staple clenching mechanism is mounted, the product to be stapled being passed between these carriers.

and the staples being inserted without interrupting the movement of the product. In the earlier forms of mechanism of this character, the clenching mechanism embodies a stationary member or block against which the staples were driven, and in the operation of mechanism of this class, the legs of the staple beganto bend inward practically as soon as they penetrated the paper. It was found inpractice that there was a liability of tearingthe paper by thus clenching the staple by what may be termed a progressive ending beginning substantially as soon as the legs of the staple perforated the paper.

The present inventlonhas for its object to produce a simple and effective construction of stapling mechanism of the class referred to in which the clenching mechanism shall be operated to clench the staple, the clenching operation not being begun until the driving operation is wholly or nearly completed, thus avoiding tearing the paper.

Afurther object of the invention is to produce a simple and efiective mechanism for clenching staples in mechanisms of theelass referred to in which the clencher shall be operated by an actuating mechanism which has a movement toward the clencher to effect the clenching operation and a movement away from said clencher.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions, and in certain parts, improvements and com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied April 3, 1906. Serial No. 309,677.

' binations as will be hereinafter fully de- 65 scribed and then specifically pointed out.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 represents i n sectional elevation a carrier provided wlth staple clenching mechanisms of the improved type, the position of the co- Patented March 17, 1908.

GNOR To ROBERT HOE, or NEW' tating carrier, this carrier beingsupported on and fixed to a shaft 2 which will be suitably mounted in bearings in the frame of the machine in which the stapling mechanism is mounted. This. carrier 1 serves to support the clenching mechanism to be hereinafter described. The cooperating carrier for'the staple driving mechanism is indicated at 3, the driving members being shown in dotted lines at 4. This staple forming and driving mechanism may be of any of the Well-known types, and an illustration of the same is, therefore, regarded as unnecessary. As

showing a form of staple forming and driving mechanism which may be employed, however, reference is made to Patent No. 510,840, dated December 12, 1893.

The staple clenching mechanism employed to carry the invention into' effect may be widely varied in its details of construction, and the number of such mechanisms employed on the carrier may also be varied, in

accordance with the exigencies of the work required. In the construction shown, the carrier 1 is provided with twenty clenching mechanisms, each mechanism embodying a pair of clenching members 5, one for each sta- I ple leg. In the best constructions, these members will be pivoted members. In'the construction shown, these members are pivoted at 6 to a block or head 7, this head being provided with a stem 8 which passes through openings 9 drilled in the circumference of the carrier 1.' The several stems are, in the construction illustrated, held in position by nuts 10 and lock nuts 11.

. The construction by which the clencher, whatever be the form employed, is operated may be varied within wide limits. In the construction illustrated, there is employed an actuator in the form of a plunger 12, this lunger being mounted in a socket 13 which is en ported in a boss 14 secured to a hub 15 whic is loosely supported on the shaft 2 before referred to. Inthe best constructions and as shown, the actuator employed'will be s ring operated. The spring for driving the p unger 12 is shown at 16. Suitable means, as a stop screw v1'7 working in a groove 18, see dotted lines in Fig. 3, in the plunger, may be employed to prevent the spring from forcing it out of the socket.

In the construction illustrated, the actuator is maintained in a stationary position with respect to the shaft and the clenching members are successively ,operated as they come within its range of action. The means for holdin the actuator stationary with respect to t e shaft 2 may be widely varied. The construction shown is adapted for use with a carrier, the circumference of which is connected to a central hub by means of spokes, the central hub being indicated at 19 and the spokes being shown at 20. The hub 15-before referred to is provided with a gear 21 which meshes with a gear 22 fast on a shaft 23, this shaft being supported in a suitable bearing 24 secured to one of the arms 20. The outer end of this shaft 23 is provided with a gear 25 which meshes with a gear 26 which surrounds the shaft 2 but which is made stationary by securing it to the frame by bolts 27, or in any other suitable manner. It will be readily understood that as the carrier rotates, the gears 20 and 22 will travel around the stationary gear 26 and the gear 21, and will operate to hold the hub 15 and the socket 13 connected therewith stationary with respect to the shaft.

The actuator will, in the best construction be operated in both directions by mechanism which may be widely varied in 1ts character. In the particular construction illustrated, the shaft 2 is rovided with a support or frame 28 in whic is mounted a cam ring 29, this ring being provided with a plurality of 0 erating faces 30. In the construction i ustrated, the number of these faces correspond with the number of clenchers. Each plunger 12 is rovided with a In 31 which extends into t e path of the rotating ring 29. As the ring rotates, therefore, each time a'cam face asses under the lug 31, the plunger will be orced back against the stress of its spring and as the lug) passes off the cam face, the plunger will e given a quick downward driving movement by its spring. In the best constructions, the cam faces will be formed as shown, that is, they will be provided with an inclined face which operates on the lug to retract the plunger, the incline joining a face which is substantially radial to the center of rotation of the ring, so as to provide for the nick movement referred to.

In the particu ar construction referred to, the movement of the )lunger 12 is transmitted to the clencher by means of pins 32, there being one of these pins for each pair of clenching members. As shown, the stems 8 are made hollow. and the pins 32 are located in them, the upper ends of the )ins beim surrounded by light springs 33 which tent normally to hold the pins elevated, the amount of elevation being such that the pins during the revolution of the carrier, pass just underneath and close to the bottom of the plunger 12. The lower ends of the pins arein contact with the pivoted clenchers before referred to, and if desired, the lower ends may be rovided with rounded heads 34, as shown.

n the operation of the mechanism as the carrier 4 rotates, the sta les are inserted by the driving mechanism t rough the product which passesbetween the carriers 1 and 4. At about the time the driving of a staple is completed, a pin 32 comes into position underneath the actuator lunger 12 which at this time has been raised ring 29. The position of the parts just prior to the time the staple is clenched is well illustrated in Fig. 4, the position of the staple being also indicated in this fi ure. As the movement of the carrier continues, the lug on the plunger 12 rides off the inclined face of the cam and the spring 16 drives the plunger suddenly against the head of the pin. In the best constructions, the side of the lug will be squared soas to rovide for a very quick movement of the p unger. The descent of the plunger and in turns the clenchers on their pivots and cfenches the staple, as shown in Fig. 5.

The construction is exceedin ly simple and effective, and it will be noted that it enables the clenching of the sta le to be delayed until the driving of the stap e is practically completed, thus avoiding danger of tearing the paper which occurs where the legs of the staple are forced against a stationary bending block, thus effecting a bending which is practically progressive with the inward movement of the staple.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction shownfor carrying the invention into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to be confined to the particular construction herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speedof the product to be stapled, of sta le driving mechanism mounted on one of tie carriers, a clencher mounted on the other carrier, a s ring operated actuator for the clencher, SLIM means for placing the spring under operating tension.

by an incline on the at the speed of the product to be stapled, of

'mounted on one of the carriers, a pair of 2. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speed of the product to'be stapled, of sta 1e driving mechanism mounted on one of t e carriers, a clencher mounted on the other carrier, means including a spring driven pl er for actuating the clencher, and means or retracting the plunger against the stress of the s ring.

3. In a stapling mechanism, t e "combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speed of the product to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism mounted on oneof the carriers, a pair of clenching members mountedon the other carrier, means including a spring driven plunger for operatin the members, and means for retracting t e plunger againstthe stress of the spring.

4. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speed of. the product to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism mounted on one of the carriers, a pair of pivoted clenching members mounted on the other carrier, means including a s ring driven plunger for operating the mem ers, and means for retractingthe plunger against the stress of the spring.

5. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speed of the product to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism mounted on one of the carriers, a pair of clenching members mounted on the other carrier, means including a spring driven plunger for operating the members,- and means including a cam for retracting the plunger against the stress of the s ring.

' 6. In a stapling mechanism, t e combination with a pair of constantly running carriers moving at the speed of; the product to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism pivoted clenching members mounted on the other carrier, means including a s ring driven plunger for operating the mem ers, and means including a cam for retracting the plunger against the stress of the spring.

7. In a stapling mechanism, t e combination with a pair of constantly rotating carriers moving at the speed of the product to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism mounted on one of the carriers, a plurality of clenching mechanisms mounted on the other carrier, each of said mechanisms including a pair of clenching members, spring actuating means for giving the clenchlng members a clenching movement, and a cam ring having a plurality of'operating faces cooperating with said actuating means. a I

, 8. In a stapling mechanism, the' combination with a pair of rotating carriers moving the carriers, a plurality of clenching mechanisms mounted on the other carrier, each mechanism including a air of clenchingimembers and an operating p unger,-and a s rin operated actuatoncooperating with t e 'p ungers to give the members a clenching movement.

9. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a pair of rotating carriersmoving at the speed of theproduct to be stapled, of staple driving mechanism mounted on one of the carriers, a plurality of clenching mechanisms mounted on the other carrier, each mechanism including. a pair of pivoted clenching members and an operating plunger, and a spring operated actuator cooperating with the plungers to give the members a clenching movement.

10. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a constantly rotating carrier, of staple driving mechanism mounted thereon, a second constantly-rotating carrier, a shaft on which said carrier is mounted and to which it is secured, a pluralityof clenching mechanisms mounted on the carrier, an

actuating mechanism for the clenching mechanisms, said, mechanismv including an actuator supported on the shaft, and means for holding the actuator stationary'with respect to the shaft.

11. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with a constantly rotating carrier, of staple driving mechanism mounted thereon, a second constantly rotating carrier, a shaft on which said carrier is mounted and to which it is secured, a plurality of clenching mechanisms mounted on the carrier, an actuating mechanism for the clenching mechanisms, said mechanism including a spring driven actuator supported on the s aft, and means for holding the actuator stationary with respect to the shaft.

12. In a stapling mechanism, the combination with, a constantly rotating carrier, of staple driving mechanism mounted thereon, a second constantly rotating carrier, a shaft on which-said carrier is mounted and to which it is secured, 'a plurality of clenching mechanisms mounted on the carrier, an actuating mechanism forthe clenching mechanisms, said mechanism including a spring driven actuator supported on the s aft, means for 'holdin the actuator stationary with respect to t e shaft, and a cam mechanism for retracting the actuator against the stress of its spring. v

13. In a staphng mechanism, the combination with a constantly rotating carrier, of a plurality of staple driving mechanisms mounted thereon, a second constantly rotating c'arrier, a shaft to which the carrier is secured and with which it moves, a plurality of staple clenching mechanisms mounted in the carrier, each of said mechanisms includ- In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in t e presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

GEORGE W. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE; LOUIS ROEHM. 

